Man rescues elderly woman from Cedar Rapids garage fire

Fire crews battled a garage fire at 420 20th St. NW in Cedar Rapids late Wednesday afternoon.

The home's owner, Roberta Ackman, 80, arrived home from the grocery store and pulled her 1998 Buick Regal in the attached garage. As she was unloading groceries, smoke started coming from the engine compartment of the vehicle. The smoke soon turned to flames and started to involve the entire garage in the fire.

Neighbor Paul Michelson, 47, witness smoke pouring from the nearby garage and assisted Ackman out to safety. The fire was reported at 4:34 p.m.

Fire quickly spread from the garage to the adjacent living room and kitchen area of the house. There was major fire, heat and smoke damage to one half of the house, but the other side sustained only light smoke damage.

No one was injured in the fire. The two occupants of the home are being assisted by the American Red Cross.